Three days later, at the academy library.
Theodora had taken a seat an hour earlier than the appointed time and was waiting for Ashen.
Her smile was the same as always, but flashes of tension kept passing through her eyes.
‘I made the appointment. Now what am I supposed to do?’
She knew she had to become close to him, but she had no idea how to actually go about it.
It was a fact no one else knew, but she had no one she could truly call a friend.
Before coming to the academy, she had lived while receiving education from the Order.
Even after enrolling, she merely attended formal gatherings with nobles; there was no one she met privately.
In a way, this was the first time she had ever been in a situation where she had to make a friend.
Even though she had spent the past three days reading books on socializing and training herself, she could not help being nervous.
Theodora pointlessly rolled the pen in her hand back and forth.
Then a passage written on a page of a theology book caught her eye.
‘You shall devote your body to labor for the Order, and there must be no falsehood in your actions.’
Seeing those words, a bitter smile escaped her without her realizing it.
There must be no falsehood.
That was what the scripture said.
And yet, right now, she had to form a false relationship in order to deceive another person.
Under the Order’s command.
Was she, was the Order, truly doing the right thing?
No sooner had the thought occurred to her than the restriction faintly activated, and her head began to ache.
At the same time, a voice sounded by her ear.
‘Do not doubt.’
She did not know whose voice it was, but it was probably one of the countless priests who had educated her.
‘I mustn’t think.’
Stricken with fear, Theodora desperately tried to empty her mind.
If she continued that train of thought even a little, she might be erased again.
So she had to stop thinking as quickly as possible…
‘Huh? What was I doing?’
She felt as though she had been thinking about something, but her mind felt strangely empty.
As if someone had covered it in pure white paint and erased it.
‘Let’s not bother thinking about it.’
In the end, Theodora stopped thinking and gazed blankly out the window.
Warm sunlight was shining down from the sun still hanging in the eastern sky.
By the time that sun reached the center of the sky, Theodora turned her head at the presence she felt nearby.
And what entered her sight was a scene she had not expected.
“So this is the library. It definitely seems like a good place to focus.”
To Ashen’s right was Lena, a Kurdan woman wearing traditional tribal ornaments over her academy uniform.
It was not an ideal situation, but Theodora had expected that much.
After all, it was well known that the two of them were always together.
The unexpected one was the woman standing to Ashen’s left.
“It has a different charm from my family’s library. Personally, I think this side is quite comfortable too.”
‘Why is Cecilia here?’
She had heard Cecilia call Ashen a friend, but were they close enough for her to follow him even in a situation like this?
Theodora glanced at Cecilia.
Was it because of what Cecilia had said the last time they met?
Just looking at her made Theodora feel an inexplicable envy.
Then Ashen’s voice reached her.
“Hello, Miss Theodora.”
“Yes, hello. But those two are…?”
“They’re my friends. They said they wanted to study together, so I told them to come along.”
“I… see.”
Despite what he said, Theodora could sense wariness toward her in Lena and Cecilia’s eyes.
They looked ready to leave with Ashen at any moment if something happened.
‘Can I really succeed?’
Watching them, Theodora felt cold sweat run down her back.
**
Contrary to Theodora’s expectations, the studying proceeded smoothly.
At first, the two of them had been so suspicious that they did not even ask her questions, but as the studying went on, they became too busy being conscious of each other rather than of her.
“So here, using purification magic on the affected area is the right answer, isn’t it?”
“There’s no way. From what I learned in my family, the correct method here is to use the traditional restoration magic formula.”
“But I think this one seems better. You have to clean it before treating it, don’t you?”
“This is why warriors are…! Naturally, that function is included in the restoration magic formula too.”
“What are you talking about, when you have less mana than me?”
“What did you say? Then let’s ask someone else!”
“Fine! Theodora, you answer. I’m right, aren’t I?”
“No, I am correct, aren’t I?”
“Haha.”
Watching the two of them use her like some kind of judge, Theodora let out a laugh without realizing it.
“I think this side is correct.”
“See? I was right!”
“Ah, I thought I’d be right this time.”
After a little grumbling, the two resumed their studying.
Theodora watched them and sank into thought.
‘How many times has this been now?’
Her original goal was to build a friendship with Ashen.
The standard approach would have been to deal with the two of them as little as possible and ignore them.
But she did not want to do that.
Their attitude was different from the priests who had disciplined her, and different from the nobles who sought to profit through her.
As she watched that attitude…
‘It’s fun.’
How many years had it been since she had smiled out of pure feeling rather than because she had to?
She could no longer even remember.
What pulled Theodora out of her long contemplation was Lena’s hand tapping her shoulder.
It was an intimate gesture, one that stirred no disgust or pain.
As Theodora found herself at a loss because of it, Lena tilted her head.
“Hey, are you listening to me?”
“Yes, yes? Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.”
“Then I’ll say it again. I was thinking of getting something from the shop. Do you want anything? We’ve already been studying for three hours, so I’m getting hungry.”
The shop.
Unfortunately, it was a place Theodora had never once visited.
Even her meals had been restricted to only what the priests prepared for her.
Just as she was flustered, a voice came to her aid.
“Miss Lena. If you eat like that, you’ll gain weight.”
“Hmph. I exercise as much as I eat. A mage like you is the one who’ll get fat.”
“I exercise too!”
“That’s exercise? It’s no different from breathing exercises. Don’t be like that. Let’s buy something tasty now, and then you, me, and Ashen can work out. That’ll be much better.”
“Urgh! Then I’ll have one tart, please.”
“Got it. Now, Theodora, what about you?”
“I’ll have the same, please.”
A tart. Fortunately, it was a food she had seen at one of the social gatherings she had been forced to attend.
Theodora inwardly sighed in relief and turned her gaze toward Ashen.
He was carefully reading through the parts she had pointed out to him.
“Um, is there anything difficult?”
“No, not yet. If I get curious about anything later, I’ll ask. More importantly, I hope my companions aren’t disturbing you.”
“No, it’s all right. I’m actually enjoying it.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, very much.”
So much that she wished this moment would never end.
Swallowing those words inwardly, Theodora smiled at Ashen.
**
Looking at Theodora, who was smiling at me differently from usual, I nodded in satisfaction.
‘It was a good thing I brought those two along.’
The enjoyment she felt was one thing, but more than that, I was able to learn more about her in detail.
‘I expected as much, but her emotions and thoughts haven’t been completely taken away.’
If they had been, she would have shown one of two attitudes.
She would have refused to let the two join us from the start.
‘Or she would have completely ignored them and focused only on me.’
But although Theodora was flustered by Senior Lena and Cecilia’s behavior, she was also enjoying it.
Just like the girl named Karin whom I had first met at the herbalist’s shop.
‘As expected, that appearance back then must be closer to her true personality.’
In that case, the question was how far her control extended…
‘That will be difficult to judge until I gather more evidence.’
Deciding to be satisfied with the information I had gained today, I examined the contents of the book Theodora had shown me.
Alongside a religious painting that occupied an entire page of the book, the story of the ancient Purifiers was written in poetic language.
‘Long ago, the Purifiers set out on adventures across the continent, and their footsteps were to uproot heresy and evil from this land.’
‘They succeeded in uprooting the countless evils of the world, but the price was harsh. Those who returned could be counted on one hand.’
‘A cursed blood-red monster. The Demon of Blood stretched its wicked hand toward the Purifiers.’
‘However, the Purifiers offered their lives and planted the will of God throughout the continent.’
‘Purifiers…’
I looked at the group of Purifiers in the book, standing against the blood-red magical beast.
Behind the Purifiers was a village of heretics they had personally burned down.
In the painting, demons lived in that village, but what if they had been ordinary people?
Suddenly, I recalled the group I had seen in the Blood Lord’s illusion.
Fanatical warriors who had erased an entire village without the slightest mercy.
If they were a band of Purifiers, and the blood-red monster was the Blood Lord…
‘The organization the Blood Lord spoke of might be…’
Could it be the Order itself, or perhaps a specific organization within the Order?
But why?
No matter how hostile they were to heretics, was there any need for the Order to go that far?
The more I thought, the more questions continued to spring up.
‘I’ll just keep it as one hypothesis for now.’
Certainty would come after physical evidence.
The problem was where to get that evidence…
‘I need to find something more solid than simple information.’
As I was thinking that, I suddenly sensed a familiar presence near the library entrance.
When I lifted my head and looked that way, I saw the door slowly open.
The one who soon revealed himself was a priest of the Order of War, wearing the same smile as always.
“Well now, how nice to see you. So you were all gathered here.”
Ramsey leisurely walked toward us and waved his hand in greeting.
At the appearance of a clear enemy, Senior Lena’s and Cecilia’s expressions stiffened.
However, even their reactions were nothing compared to Theodora’s.
As if the enjoyment she had felt moments ago had been an illusion.
There was no longer any emotion in her eyes.
It felt as though a person had been replaced with a wax doll.
The moment I felt doubtful of that fact, Ramsey placed a hand on Theodora’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, but I was hoping to borrow our Miss Theodora for a bit. That would be all right, wouldn’t it?”
At Ramsey’s words, I saw Theodora’s hand twitch faintly.
I examined Theodora’s condition.
She was trying hard not to show it on the surface, but her trembling eyes, quickened breathing, and bloodless face revealed her emotions.
“I’m not sure. If she herself wants to, I don’t mind, but it doesn’t look that way.”
“Surely that can’t be. Miss Theodora and I are quite close, you see. Isn’t that right, Miss Theodora?”
Ramsey moved close to her, as if breathing into her ear, and whispered.
At that, Theodora’s body went rigid.
Like a rabbit before a predator.
“Wait a moment! Isn’t that far too rude to a lady?”
Cecilia stood up from her seat, glaring at Ramsey in anger.
But Ramsey tilted his head at her as though he had no idea what she meant.
“She and I are that close. We often met and exchanged opinions because of the Order’s work. After all, she is the Hero chosen by the Church of the Six Great Gods. So it is not rude.”
“You really…!”
Just as Cecilia was about to shout something more, Theodora’s hand cut between the two of them.
“Yes, I am on intimate terms with Mr. Ramsey. So would it be all right if I stepped out for a bit?”
As she said that, there was not the slightest trace left of the woman who had been enjoying herself moments ago.
At the sight of her, like a moving corpse stripped of humanity, Cecilia looked slightly startled.
Without paying any attention to her reaction, Theodora rose from her seat and followed Ramsey.
Her gait was like that of a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.
Yet, paradoxically, there did not seem to be any hesitation in her steps.
It was the attitude of one who had submitted to fate and obeyed her master’s command exactly.
‘As expected…’
I can’t just leave things like this.
Watching her back grow farther and farther away, I silently clenched my fist.